Finding information on HSPH web pages has never been easier, thanks to a Google program now underpinning the School's search engine at http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/search.html.
Information Technology purchased the program and launched it in early January. Prior to then, the School used a less comprehensive version of Google offered without charge to universities.
The concept behind the new program is fairly simple. Google uses an algorithm to index keywords that appear on web pages. At HSPH, the algorithm begins identifying words on the School's home page and then crawls through every other HSPH page.
The algorithm can be programmed to cope with synonyms and abbreviations-for example, it can be taught that MPH and master's of public health are the same concept. (Suggestions of synonyms and abbreviations not already programmed into the new system can be sent to webmaster@hsph.harvard.edu.)
Unlike the previous search program, the new HSPH Google can also index School web sites that do not use "hsph" in their URLs, such as "Your Disease Risk" (http://www.yourdiseaserisk.harvard.edu/) and "World Health News" (http://www.worldhealthnews.harvard.edu).
Results are ranked according to keywords, as well as by how many other pages link to the web page and how often the page is updated.
"HSPH's web site now numbers thousands of pages and is continually growing. Faculty, students, and staff demand an ability to find information quickly and precisely," said Deane Eastwood, manager for Instructional Computing and Application Development at HSPH. "We are pleased to be able to provide a search function that is much more thorough than what was previously available."
Compare the Difference
HPH NOW plugged in the phrase "medical error movement HSPH" at the general Google web site and at the new HSPH Google site.
Top Two Sites pulled by http://www.google.com
- Faculty research page for Lucian Leape, HSPH adjunct professor of health policy and a pioneer of the medical error movement
- Same content as #1, slightly different URL.
Top Two Sites pulled by http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/search.html
- Faculty research page for Lucian Leape, HSPH adjunct professor of health policy and a pioneer of the medical error movement
- Monitoring System Needed to Prevent Safety Hazard of Problem Physicians"-a recent HSPH press release dated January 16, 2006
The Winner Is...
Information Technology raffled three iPods to attendees of GroupWise Information Sessions held in December and January. The winners were:
- Tony Ao from the Department of Population and International Health
- Julie Gound from the Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases
- Sonia Toledo from Operations
GroupWise will soon become the School's e-mail system. For more information, visit http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/email.
Copyright, 2007, President and Fellows of Harvard College
